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katiemack's reviews
1406 reviews
Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens by Marieke Nijkamp
3.0
Anthologies are so tough to rate; this one, as many do, has its mix of good and mediocre stories. As a result, it took me longer than usual to get through.
For me, the standouts are “Britt and the Biker God,” “Per Aspera ad Astra,” and “A Curse, A Kindness.”
For me, the standouts are “Britt and the Biker God,” “Per Aspera ad Astra,” and “A Curse, A Kindness.”
Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales
4.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars overall.
This book was very much set up like Grease, as the blurb promises. Ollie is still savoring his casual summer fling in North Carolina when he finds out that his family is staying in North Carolina instead of heading back to California--and his summer fling, Will, won't acknowledge him. What follows is a sensitive portrayal of love, sexuality, and loss as Will struggles to hide their relationship from the world around them and Ollie tries to reconcile his feelings with the hurt Will is causing him, all while Ollie's Aunt Linda is battling cancer.
The way Gonzales writes evokes a very real sense of what it's like to be a teenager; I think it will resonate well with its intended audience. In this way, I appreciated that Ollie's new set of friends was tentatively accepting of him in the beginning; it can be annoying when YA authors write "insta-friendships" in their books--where's the struggle to fit in there, especially in a new environment? Will and Lara were both incredibly frustrating at times, which was grating, even if it was meant to highlight their character development. The way Gonzales portrays illness and death also felt very real and was not romanticized; I teared up several times.
4.5 stars overall.
This book was very much set up like Grease, as the blurb promises. Ollie is still savoring his casual summer fling in North Carolina when he finds out that his family is staying in North Carolina instead of heading back to California--and his summer fling, Will, won't acknowledge him. What follows is a sensitive portrayal of love, sexuality, and loss as Will struggles to hide their relationship from the world around them and Ollie tries to reconcile his feelings with the hurt Will is causing him, all while Ollie's Aunt Linda is battling cancer.
The way Gonzales writes evokes a very real sense of what it's like to be a teenager; I think it will resonate well with its intended audience. In this way, I appreciated that Ollie's new set of friends was tentatively accepting of him in the beginning; it can be annoying when YA authors write "insta-friendships" in their books--where's the struggle to fit in there, especially in a new environment? Will and Lara were both incredibly frustrating at times, which was grating, even if it was meant to highlight their character development. The way Gonzales portrays illness and death also felt very real and was not romanticized; I teared up several times.
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
4.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While this book was similar to Silver's debut One Day in December, I liked this one better (though I read it just as quickly!).
For me, this book held more meaning; Silver's slow-burn style of writing pairs well with Lydia's navigating her grief after the death of her fiance. As in One Day in December, the side characters are incredibly detailed and are fleshed out as well as Lydia herself (occasionally at the expense of Lydia's character development); it made Lydia's progression feel more concrete.
One warning: don't read this in a public place...I teared up several times.
While this book was similar to Silver's debut One Day in December, I liked this one better (though I read it just as quickly!).
For me, this book held more meaning; Silver's slow-burn style of writing pairs well with Lydia's navigating her grief after the death of her fiance. As in One Day in December, the side characters are incredibly detailed and are fleshed out as well as Lydia herself (occasionally at the expense of Lydia's character development); it made Lydia's progression feel more concrete.
One warning: don't read this in a public place...I teared up several times.
Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
3.0
2.5-3 stars. This was tough for me to get through; the detailed descriptions of violence against women, in particular, were stomach-churning and didn’t work at all for me. Overall, though, the writing is solid, and I enjoyed Robb’s characterization of Eve Dallas.
Akissi: Cat Invasion by Marguerite Abouet
2.0
2.5. I loved the colorful art and thought this was visually appealing, and the cultural aspects were interesting, but I also felt like Akissi was a brat for most of the vignettes. I also don’t think the punch lines/conclusions worked well either (not sure if this is a translation issue or an issue with the writing)